The University of Antwerp is DFL’s first academic partner from Belgium, reflecting the foundation’s most enduring partnership in the region. 

This year, DFL has awarded three students with full scholarships to pursue their graduate studies at the university. Each student brings a distinct story, academic interests shaped by their lived experiences and professional goals rooted in community building, leadership and positive change. We are honoured to introduce them:

Meet Afaf Ouardi

Moroccan scholar Afaf Ouardi is set to begin her Master’s in Digital Business Engineering at the University of Antwerp, following her Bachelor of Science in IT Management and Data Analytics. She selected this program because it sits at the unique intersection of communication strategy and the cutting edge of modern technology, bridging theory and practical technical skills across data, artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology.

In high school, Afaf was exposed to various sub-fields in technology through participating regularly in programming competitions, hackathons and language studies. While she enjoyed the technical side of computing, she also had a passion for communicating ideas, research, presenting information and working collaboratively. This combination ultimately led her to pursue a field that connects business and technology.

High Achievement and High Ambition

During her undergraduate degree, Afaf served as Vice-President of a ThinkTank club and a trainer for the Lebanese American University’s (LAU) Simulation Model conference, experiences that strengthened her leadership and communication skills. She looks forward to being an involved student at UAntwerp and has already researched student organizations she can join. 

While Afaf was doing research on scholarship opportunities, a friend from Lebanon reached out encouraging her to apply for a DFL scholarship. After learning more about DFL, she felt that the foundation’s program provided the whole package including administrative support, generous financial coverage and a built-in community support that was unique. Afaf expressed her plans to nurture the DFL community as a new participant, by building connections and serving as a mentor in her own right.

While completing her graduate studies at UAntwerp, Afaf plans to gain practical experience and immerse herself in the local community. She views Europe as a technology hub and she seeks to benefit from the university’s extensive and ongoing investments in building out its technological infrastructure. Outside of academics, she hopes to connect with her peers and make the most of her international student experience.

Afaf arrived in Brussels in early September 2026, where she was warmly received by DFL and University of Antwerp alumna Noran Khafaga at Brussels airport. Later in the day, Afaf connected with fellow 2026 cohort members, founder of DFL and DFL Europe, Prof. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, along with directors of DFL Europe’s Board Leila Wafi and Omar Zouhir for a welcome dinner hosted by the foundation.

Afaf Ouradi pictured with DFL Alumna Noran Khafaga, where they met at Brussels Airport. September 2026.

Meet Farah Abu Amer

Our next scholarship winner is Farah Abu Amer from Palestine, who will soon begin a Master’s in Political Science at the University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) in Belgium. Farah’s passion for political science stems from a longstanding interest in international relations, community leadership and social change. 

She was drawn to this field after participating in various international events including a United Nations program in Egypt. There, she researched policies and regulations and represented Palestinian issues, including those concerning women and children.

Overcoming Adversity Through Resilience

Farah completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the Islamic University of Gaza under extraordinary circumstances. Two years into her studies, the war in Gaza disrupted her education for seven months. Although remote learning was not ideal, she persevered online for another two years. Overcoming adversity, she maintained academic excellence and ranked among the top students in her program.

Farah first learned about DFL through a scholarship group on WhatsApp and was encouraged to apply by a current DFL scholar, Sara Albhaisi. DFL’s scholarship was a lifesaving opportunity for her. After reading the stories of previous scholars, she realized that this scholarship represented an opportunity to continue her education and become part of a supportive community of women. 

Farah aims to take full advantage of the wealth of faculty knowledge, campus resources and professional opportunities extended to University of Antwerp students during her time as a Master’s student. She’s eager to lend her time through volunteering, and brings a heartfelt passion to the classrom, as a student returning to in-person learning after an extended disruption. We’re excited to follow along on her journey, and to bring you her future achievements.

 

Meet Salma Awadalla

Joining Farah and Afaf at UAntwerp is Palestinian scholar Salma Awadalla, who will also be enrolling in the Master’s in Political Science program alongside Farah. She is a Bachelor of Arts graduate who studied economics. Over time, Salma developed a growing interest in international relations, conflict resolution and how to improve economic downturns. 

Emerging Leadership, and Driving Positive Change

The 2023 war changed her outlook on the world and its institutions, and made her realize that political science is a field that enables changemaking:

“When the war started, it changed my view on things. I saw how we are influenced by political decisions and wanted to become a leader who makes a [positive] impact. I also saw how issues like unemployment affects [youth] in Gaza, and I want to create policies that address that.”

Salma initially first learned about DFL from her sister and after doing more research, she felt inspired by Dr. Abuelaish’s story and DFL’s mission to empower women through education. Becoming a full scholarship recipient deepened her resolve to create a major impact in her community.

As an undergraduate student, Salma faced difficulties in her final year due to technical disruptions and local issues. Despite this, she remained committed to her studies and completed her degree. Salma believes that with a higher level of responsibility as a Master’s student, she will strengthen her resilience, adaptability and leadership skills. She is eager to visit a new country, gain more political knowledge and live in close proximity to Brussels, which serves as the heart of the continent and a central hub of policy development.

Looking ahead, Salma hopes to use her education to support youth in Gaza by addressing youth unemployment with thoughtful policies, advocating for expanded education and upskilling, and programs that respond to local issues. 

We look forward to welcoming Farah and Salma later in the academic year, and are incredibly proud to onboard this year’s DFL-UAntwerp cohort of scholarship recipients.